Pasta in Vodka Sauce (Pasta alla Vodka) is an Italian-American dish whose primary ingredients are tomato sauce, vodka and cream. I was initially reluctant to try this dish when I found it on menus, vodka? Really? While wine is most often used in making Italian sauces, the vodka in this dish actually adds a little …
We became huge fans of Laksa (Malaysian curry noodle soup) when traveling through Malaysia and Singapore. This creamy noodle soup is full of spicy exotic flavors, such as lemongrass and creamy coconut milk, that we have come to crave when in through Southeast Asia. We quickly discovered that we weren’t alone in our adoration for …
Fideua de Marisco is a popular seafood dish in Spain. It’s similar to paella, but with some important differences. Fideua is a pasta lover’s answer to Paella (or Arroz a Banda). The thin pasta noodles soak up the broth in the same way that rice does, but has a different texture and is therefore a …
While traveling through South Africa I become totally enthralled with Peri-Peri or (Piri-Piri) Sauce. The spicy condiment, made with birds-eye chili peppers, is a favorite hot sauce in Africa. The peppers are grown in Africa but were embraced by the Portuguese who are credited for inventing the sauce. There are many versions of Peri-Peri sauce, …
Bacon and Egg Spaghetti is a twist on the classic Italian dish, Spaghetti all Carbonara. I use standard strips of bacon (rather than pancetta bacon) and partially cook the eggs in order to add texture. The result is a rich, creamy pasta dish along with savory smoky bacon. The dish comes together very quickly, which …
Nokedli are fluffy Hungarian egg noodle dumplings that are commonly used when making one of the country’s favorite dishes, Chicken Paprikash. The dumplings are also often used in German Cuisine where they are known as “spaetzle“ or “spätzle.” The primitive shape of these homemade Hungarian dumplings give an idea of how long they have been …
Khinkali (also known as Chinkali or Xinkali) are stuffed pasta dumplings that are a favorite dish from the Country of Georgia. They are similar to Chinese Soup Dumplings, (Xiao Long Bao), but are much larger than their bite-sized cousins. These hearty little bags of goodness are typically served up on large platters and shared with …
We first sampled pasta with walnut sauce during a trip through Italy, where walnuts are a prized ingredient. There are many versions walnut sauce (salsa di noci) – including very simple preparations where pulverized walnuts are added to milk and breadcrumbs and then tossed with pasta. I prefer to use granule sized walnut chunks to …
Green Lasagna is a classic Italian dish that we first discovered on a trip to Bologna, Italy. Bologna is in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy where Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is produced. It is also the place where Bolognese sauce originated. These two ingredients are paired up in this recipe with a classic béchamel sauce and …
The Emilia Romagna region of Italy is known for food. It’s home to Parma where the famous ham originates and Modena, which is famous for its balsamic vinegar. And of course, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is made in this area. Bologna, the capital of Emilia Romagna, is also famous for bolognese sauce or ragù alla bolognese. Traditional bolognese …